Charity golf tourney raises more than $40,000 to feed hungry

The Hunger Prevention Coalition of Central Oregon last week accepted a check for $41,120 from Go Golf!, Central Oregon’s largest charitable golf tournament committed to providing nutritious meals for community members in need.

On July 20, some 120 golfers, which included community as well as influential leaders from the grocery and retail industry, teed off at Broken Top Golf Club in Bend to participate in Newport Avenue Market’s annual fundraiser of which 100 percent of proceeds go directly to the Hunger Prevention Coalition of Central Oregon.

Formerly known as Rude Rudy’s golf tournament, which began more than three decades ago to show Newport Avenue Market’s appreciation for its vendors, Go Golf! has evolved into one of the region’s largest charitable golf tournaments.

Since 2007, the event has raised nearly $400,000 for HPC, an all-volunteer run organization that helps to secure funding for 16 local food provider agencies, from shelters like Bethlethem Inn and Saving Grace to meal kitchens, food boxes and Meals on Wheels programs.

“Every dollar raised from the tournament ensures that those who are being served, from homeless to young working families struggling to make their dollars stretch to the end of the month, will have access to nutritious fresh foods – not just cans and boxes,” said Marie Gibson, HPC’s treasurer and a board member. “Since we started in 2002, Newport Avenue Market has been a major benefactor of the HPC, and their contributions account for 50 percent and sometimes more of our annual income.”

“When Newport Avenue Market transitioned to an employee-owned store in 2015, there was never any hesitation that our store, and our employees, would continue to champion the cause of providing nutritious meals to our neighbors in need,” said Lauren Johnson, Newport’s CEO. “True to our work hard/play hard vibe, golfers who participated in the Go Golf! Tournament enjoyed a fun day on the links while helping to meet a critical need for families who live right here in Central Oregon.”